Method and apparatus for customizing insoles for footwear

a technology for insoles and footwear, applied in the field of foot orthopaedics, can solve the problems of foot problems and the corresponding costs associated with foot care, which can cost millions of dollars, and the number of hours of work time can be lost, and the problem of foot problems can aris

Active Publication Date: 2009-02-17
AETREX INC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]An advantage of the present invention is a method and apparatus for generating a customized insole for footwear. The inventive method and apparatus use information relating to the pressure applied by the sole of a person's foot to customize an insole for the person by removing pieces of the insole at specific pressure points.

Problems solved by technology

Foot problems and the corresponding costs associated with foot care cost millions of dollars.
In cases where the foot problem is debilitating for particular activities, a number of hours of work time can be lost.
Foot problems can arise from medical conditions, work conditions requiring standing or walking, athletic activities, and the like.
Thus, foot problems can develop from medical conditions, work activity or leisure activity.
However, there has never been a system which integrates digital pressure sensors and insoles with removable pieces to provide a very accurate, fast and effective way to accomplish the goal of customizing an insole for an individual.

Method used

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  • Method and apparatus for customizing insoles for footwear
  • Method and apparatus for customizing insoles for footwear
  • Method and apparatus for customizing insoles for footwear

Examples

Experimental program
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example i

Generating a Customized Insole for Footwear

[0054]This example describes generating a pressure map and customizing an insole for footwear.

[0055]A conventional iStep® footpad device comprises an array of 1024 sensors in a 32×32 grid. Each sensor emits a signal range from 0 to 255. The sensors are composed of 2 separate metal components which, when connected, send a signal to an internal circuit board unit. The internal board unit then sends this signal to the host computer. The host computer thus receives a frame of 1024 signal bytes from the iStep® footpad.

[0056]An individual is directed to stand on a pressure plate for about 10 to 30 seconds, or any desired amount of time suitable for the pressure plate to take an appropriate measurement, and the sensors transmit signals to the computer to map out the contacts and relative pressure of the feet on the pressure plate. Although the pressure plate has 1024 sensors, typically only about half end up in contact with the feet. Generally, ea...

example ii

Generating a Customized Insole for Footwear

[0060]This example describes customizing footwear for an individual.

[0061]An exemplary scheme for generating a pressure map to customize an insole to an individual is shown in FIG. 6A. To generate a customized insole, an individual stands on a pressure plate (step 600), such as an iStep® pressure plate, for an appropriate amount of time to determine the pressure points on the sole of each foot, for example 10 to 30 seconds. As discussed in Example I, the iStep® footpad is a pressure plate containing an array of 1024 sensors in a 32×32 grid. The pressure sensors detect pressure applied by the sole of a foot (step 610). On those sensors on which pressure is detected, a signal is generated and transmitted to a computer. Data from the pressure sensors are analyzed by software (step 620).

[0062]The data output received by the software is converted to a scale, for example, a scale of 0 to 15 and / or a color scale. FIG. 6B shows an exemplary pressur...

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Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for generating a customized insole for footwear using information relating to pressure applied by the sole of a foot, which information is correlated to removable pieces of the insole. Embodiments include a method and apparatus for generating a customized insole for footwear, including receiving data from a pressure plate corresponding to a pressure map of the sole of a foot; determining regions of high relative pressure exceeding a predetermined relative pressure level within the pressure map; and associating data related to the regions of high relative pressure to an insole including removable insole pieces corresponding to the pressure map.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to pedorthics for preventing and relieving foot problems. The present invention has particular applicability to footwear customized for an individual.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Foot problems and the corresponding costs associated with foot care cost millions of dollars. In cases where the foot problem is debilitating for particular activities, a number of hours of work time can be lost. Foot problems can arise from medical conditions, work conditions requiring standing or walking, athletic activities, and the like. Thus, foot problems can develop from medical conditions, work activity or leisure activity.[0003]Pedorthics is the art concerned with the design, manufacture, fit, and modification of footwear and foot appliances as prescribed for relief of painful or disabling conditions of the foot. For those who practice any level of pedorthics, the goal is to provide protection and comfort to the consumer / patient. One of ...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Patents(United States)
IPC IPC(8): G01L19/00G06F15/00G16Z99/00
CPCA43B17/00A43D1/025A61B5/1036G06F19/3437A61B2562/0247A61B2562/046G16H50/50G16Z99/00
Inventor SCHWARTZ, EVANSCHWARTZ, MATTHEWCAHANAP, ROBERTOSCHWARTZ, LARRY
Owner AETREX INC
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